Agenda Item 4(b) CX/FFV 02/10

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1 Agenda Item 4(b) CX/FFV 02/10 JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME CODEX COMMITTEE ON FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Tenth Session, Mexico City, Mexico, June 2002 Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes (At Step 3) GERMANY Section The following paragraph should be added as fourth paragraph: The development and condition of the table grapes must be such as to enable them: to withstand transport and handling, and to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination. Section 2.2.2, 3 rd paragraph: CX/FFV 02/10-Add.1 The words sufficiently attached should be replaced by firmly attached. This is necessary to guarantee a good quality produce in class I. Section The following paragraph should be inserted as 2 nd paragraph: The bunches may show slight defects in shape, development and colouring, provided theses do not impair the essential characteristics of the variety. Section 3 - The sentence should read: Size is determined by the weight of the bunch. The standard does not cover single or loose berries. Section 3.1: The words of any origin and/or variety should be deleted. It is not necessary to refer to origin and varieties with respect to the very precise table that follows. The minimum size for small-berry varieties in class II should be 75 g. This minimum size (that is the absolute minimum with regard to the size tolerances) reflects practice in trade very well. Moreover, the minimum weight for tables grapes grown under protection should be specified to be in line with international trade practice. Section 3.1.1: E The words in each box containing small packages should be replaced by in each small package. It is necessary to allow the one bunch below the minimum weight for each single small package and not only for the whole box containing these small packages as the small packages are made up by weight and may need a very small bunch or part of a bunch to adjust the net weight.

2 It is necessary to establish a list of small-berry varieties. Otherwise the differentiation between large-berry and small-berry varieties with regard to the minimum size is not very clear and helpful as countries and/or producers may have different views whether a variety belongs to the large-berry or the small-berry group. The standard must be clear and mandatory in this point. As soon as a list of small-berry varieties is established (it is recommended to copy the relevant list of the UN/ECE standard for table grapes), the following paragraph should be added: Where the name of the variety on the marking does not appear on the list in the Annex hereto, the minimum weight for large-berry varieties is required. TABLE GRAPES Maturity SOUTH AFRICA South Africa believes that internal maturity requirements can only be useful if it is defined by variety. We thus support the Annex referring to minimum soluble solids contents, but it should be made more exhaustive. Some of the values expressed in the Annexure are unattainable and our proposals are listed below. MINIMUM SOLUBLE SOLIDS AND THRESHOLD SOLUBLE SOLIDS Varieties TO DETERMINE MATURITY IN TABLE GRAPES Soluble Solids Min. Brix Almeria 16,5 15,5 16,0 15,0 Beauty Seedless 15,5 15,0 Black Seedless 15,5 14,5 Calmeria 16,5 16,0 Cardinal 15,0 14,5 Christmas Rose 16,5 16,0 Crimson Seedless 16,5 16,0 15,5 15,0 Dawn Seedless 15,5 15,0 Emperor 15,5 15,0 15,0 14,5 Exotica 14,5 14,0 Flame Seedless 16,0 15,0 Flame Tokay 16,0 15,5 Italia 16,0 14,0 Kyoho 15,5 - Moscatel Rosada 17,0 16,0 Perlette 15,5 14,5 Queen of the Vineyard 15,5 13,5 15,0 13,0 Red Globe 16,0 15,5 14,5 14,0 Red Seedless 14,5 - Ribier 16,0 15,5 Ruby Seedless 16,0 15,0 Sugraone/Superior Seedless 16,0 15,0 15,0 14,0 Thompson Seedless 16,0 15,5 15,5 14,5 We also propose that Footnote 5 in the Annex be redrafted to make it clearer. Soluble Solids Threshold, Brix 5 2

3 BUNCH WEIGHT The minimum bunch weight for Class 2 small berry varieties is at present 100 g in the proposed standard. SA proposes that it be lowered to 75 g. South Africa exports a niche market product called late harvest which is derived from the secondary harvest. Characteristically the bunches show a very unique twist of the stem, but it does not reach the required bunch weight of 150 g required for Class 1. It is thus proposed that the bunch weight be lowered to 100 g in Class 1 only for the late harvest bunches from the varieties Barlinka, Dauphine, La Rochelle, Sunred Seedless and Bonheur. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY The European Community thanks Chile and the other countries having taken part in the preparation of this proposed draft standard, as well as the Secretariat of Codex Alimentarius. On the one hand, this proposed draft Codex standard is much closer to the UNECE standard for table grapes than the earlier version which had been submitted to the last CCFFV meeting. Moreover, Annex III makes it possible to locate easily the principal amendments proposed in relation to the existing UN/ECE standard, which will facilitate largely the work of CCFFV at its next session Pigmentation "Pigmentation due to sun is not a defect so long as this only affects the outer skins of the berries. [ Note: mentioning the outer skin is excessive ] Maturity Without prejudice to a more detailed study of the figures proposed in the annex with regard to Brix degrees and sugar-acid ratio for each variety, the Community agrees to make use of these two criteria. It wishes however to make the following remarks: - it is necessary to clearly specify in the text that the maturity index proposed is TSS (Soluble solids contents), and that it is measured by refractometer on the juice of the berries. - it is necessary to lay down a minimum Brix level for the varieties not mentioned in Annex I. The Community proposes at this stage to adopt the UN/ECE recommendation values: 14 Brix for seedless varieties, 13 Brix for other varieties except A. Lavallée and Victoria (12 Brix); - it is necessary to clearly specify that the alternative based on the sugar-acid ratio (minimum 20:1) applies only to the varieties mentioned in annex I and provided that the TSS threshold proposed in second column of Annex I are respected. With regard to varieties Kyoho and Red seedless, the Community interprets the absence of threshold as meaning that the alternative based on the sugar-acid ratio does not apply to these two varieties. - with regard to the varieties not mentioned in Annex I, the Community proposes retaining the general sentence of the UN/ECE recommendation with regards to sugar-acid ratio: "In addition, all varieties must have satisfactory sugar-acid ratio levels." - the figures proposed for the variety Cardinal seem too high. The UN/ECE recommendation mentions 12 Brix for this variety. The following subparagraph should be added in 2.2.1, because it is included in all Codex standards for fresh fruit and vegetables: "The development and condition of table grapes must be such as to enable them: to withstand transport and handling, and - to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination." 3

4 2.3. (ex-2.2) classification - at item (ex 2.2.2), third subparagraph: The fact that berries are well attached to the bunch is an important criterion of quality. The Codex draft seems to align Class I characteristics on those of Class II ("sufficiently attached "berries). The Community wishes to retain the UN/ECE text, which requires in Class I and in Extra Class that berries "be firmly attached ". The Community proposes therefore replacing the word "sufficiently" by the word "firmly". - at item (ex 2.2.3), second subparagraph, to read: "Berries must be sufficiently firm..." 3. Sizing In the first subparagraph, read: "Size of bunches is determined by their weight." 3.1. first subparagraph: delete the words "of any origin and/or variety" In the table, the minimum weight for bunches of small-berry varieties should be 75 g (instead of 100 g as proposed). The European Community proposes renaming the central column of the table as follows: "All varieties but small-berry varieties". The Community proposes adding the following subparagraph after the table: "An exhaustive list of small-berry varieties appears in Annex II hereto" replace the words "below the minimum weight" by the words "below 75 g" 5. Presentation 5.1. The Community proposes writing the third subparagraph in a more clear way: "Consumer packages of a net weight not exceeding one kilo may contain mixtures of table grapes of different varieties, provided they are uniform in quality, degree of ripeness and, for each variety concerned, in origin." The Community proposes deleting the fourth subparagraph (inclusion of different varieties for decorative purposes). This practice is very little developed, only in the case of Chasselas variety, which can be of both colours. This involves regional trade: it can therefore not be mentioned in the Codex standard The Community proposes adding a new subparagraph concerning presentation of table grapes in Extra class, which needs to be done in a single layer: "In the case of the Extra class, the bunches must be packed in a single layer." The Community proposes supplementing the second subparagraph as follows in order to cover a rather widespread commercial practice (grapes presented with a vine shoot fragment): "Packages must be free of all foreign matter, although a fragment of vine shoot no more than 5 cm in length may be left on the stem of the bunch as a form of special presentation. " 6. Labelling The second indent could be modified as follows: "- Name of the variety, - in the case of consumer packages containing a mixture of different varieties, names of the different varieties " 4

5 The unique indent could be modified as follows: "- Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown or national, regional or local place name. - in the case of consumer packages containing a mixture of varieties of different origins, the indication of each country of origin shall appear next to the name of the variety concerned." The indication of net weight should be optional. Annex II The Community wishes an exhaustive list of small-berry varieties (benefiting from special provisions with regard to sizing - see above), harmonised with the II.b list of the UN/ECE standard for table grapes, to be added to the Codex standard. 5